Parched Singda testifies deforestation activities
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: April 22, 2023 -

WHILE it is heartening to hear chief minister N Biren affirming that the government is planning to deliver various projects to the people in the current year and according top priority in addressing the problem of water shortage, it is obvious that ensuring regular supply of potable water would be a difficult task in view of the destruction caused to the forests, imminent effect of global warming and the fact that the rainfall abundant northeast region has been experiencing decline in the seasonal rainfall.

According to a report of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the NE registered a 44 per cent deficit in rainfall for the month of July last year, even as the rest of the country received ample rains.

As per the IMD, against the average expected rainfall of 424.1 mm, the northeast region received 234.6 millimetres (mm) of rain during the month of July, which was the lowest since 1901, whereas the national rainfall record was recorded at 327.7 mm. The report also inferred that the poor rainfall in east and north-eastern part of the country affected the crop sowing season directly.

Apart from the global warming phenomenon consequently leading to reduction of rainfall amount in the regions across India known to receive more rainfall, persistence of the same trend would mean that the northeast region will be the hardest hit.

The government may successfully execute projects for storage and supply of potable water but with the trend of shortfall in annual rainfall, but there is no guarantee that the existing or upcoming projects would serve the purpose.

As pointed out by the chief minister while assessing the condition of Singda Dam on Thursday, the water reservoir has dried up and the state is facing water scarcity especially in Imphal.

In order to rejuvenate the Singda project the government is planning to clear the silt, station police personnel, erect fencing and carry out tree plantation drives in the catchment area.

There is no doubt that drying up of the Singda water reservoir almost every year for the last few years is a testament about rampant deforestation activities in the catchment area.

Such unwanted phenomenon merits not only extensive afforestation programmes with the proactive involvement of the local communities but also chalk up alternative means to ensure that the water supply system does not collapse.

The public outcry over acute shortage of potable water in Imphal and Greater Imphal area few weeks back has been addressed to some extent with the activation of Chingkheiching water treatment plant, which sources water from the Thoubal multipurpose project.

However, the Thoubal project also meeting the same fate as Singda cannot be ruled out in case trees growing in the catchment area's cannot be protected.

It is also suggested that if the the government plan to keep alive the Singda project or any such facilities, include household survey to ascertain whether or not the much-publicised programmes for distribution LPG cylinders and appliances are actually benefitting the villagers settling along the catchment area of the water reservoirs.

Moreover, it is equally important that LPG refilling outlets be opened nearest to these villages without which felling of trees wouldn't cease.